Doheny Longboard Surfing Association

When Bill Barnes resumed surfing a few years ago after a two-decade hiatus, he longed to get the feel again of a board under his feet and the movement of the ocean. But instead of simply riding the waves, Barnes has found himself spending time testing the water for fecal coliform, lobbying politicians and scrutinizing development plans in the city. Barnes, 42, is a member of the Doheny Longboard Surfing Assn., a group of surfers who prefer to call themselves environmentalists.

When Bill Barnes resumed surfing a few years ago after a two-decade hiatus, he longed to get the feel again of a board under his feet and the movement of the ocean. But instead of simply riding the waves, Barnes has found himself spending time testing the water for fecal coliform, lobbying politicians and scrutinizing development plans in the city. Barnes, 42, is a member of the Doheny Longboard Surfing Assn., a group of surfers who prefer to call themselves environmentalists.